Class Acts: Andrew Millar, Canton High School

On most Fridays during his junior year, Canton High School valedictorian Andrew Millar and the rest of his Advanced Placement chemistry classmates and teacher would stay on campus late into the evenings to study reactions over a meal of pizza or wings.

"We joked about it, but it really became like a family," Millar said.

Millar said that community was central to him during his time at Canton High School. Over the past four years, he served as president of his school's National Honor Society chapter, worked in student government as vice president of his class, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and played alto saxophone in the band and jazz workshop.

Millar also had a reputation for humility. In an email, Principal Gary Gula called Millar "a fantastic kid" who is "very intelligent, but very humble."

When asked how he felt to be named valedictorian, Millar deflected the question to instead praise the "tons of other very capable students in my class."

Millar said his experience attending Canton High School, one of the smallest high schools in the state, influenced his decision to go to a small college. In the fall, he will attend Maine's Bowdoin College — which has an enrollment of about 1,800 students — where he tentatively plans to study biochemistry.

"I realized I really like saying hi to people in the hallways," Millar said. "I wanted to keep that community aspect part of my life."